Podcast Episodes

In this honest and heartfelt episode, host Angela Chang is joined by Dan Ferrer to discuss into the intersection of mental health and Muay Thai. As fighters and coaches themselves with more than a decade of experience each in Muay Thai, they share how the sport helped both of them navigate difficult chapters in life, and when it was necessary to get the appropriate help. Dan opens up about struggling with depression, recovering from injury, and finding strength in community, coaching, and therapy. Together, they explore how fighters (and non-fighters) can better care for their mental well-being while staying engaged with a sport they love. Whether you're a fighter, coach, or someone who just loves Muay Thai, this episode offers a candid reminder: you are more than the gym.Show notes:Follow Dan's journey and contact via:instagram.com/_danferrer_linkedin.com/in/danfnyc/Trauma-informed coaching resources:Off the Zone: Trauma-informed teaching for martial art instructors and athletes. Currently 3 online courses are available. https://www.off-the-zone.com/Conscious Combat Club: “By teaching combat in a conscious way, guided by trauma-informed principles, we aim to help people expand their window of tolerance.” Online and in-person training and a course available for coaches. https://www.consciouscombat.club/———-If you'd like to more high-quality content, please consider supporting Muay Ying through Patreon. Any amount is appreciated and it will go towards my efforts to run all the platforms Muay Ying is on, as well as create content for each of them. http://patreon.com/muayyingYou can also find us: instagram.com/muay.ying  muay-ying.comYou can find the host (Angela) via instagram.com/angela.muaythai or angelamuaythai.comIntro/Outro music by Maki of the Moon

Host Angela Chang by David Serate to unpack the psychology of the beginner mindset and look at how cross-training in entirely different physical environments can patch up technical and mental leaks in your Muay Thai. David shares how the high-speed composure learned from downhill skateboarding helped him stay grounded when getting hit in sparring, and how the explosive intensity of bull riding fixed his habit of starting rounds too slow. We also address the realities of modern gym culture – moving past the "performative hardness" common among beginners, how to ask specific technical questions that actually yield useful feedback, and why experienced practitioners have a responsibility to keep sparring playful ("len") rather than forcing newer students into a survival-mode war.Find David on Instagram via (@serate.actual)———-If you'd like to more high-quality content, please consider supporting Muay Ying through Patreon. Any amount is appreciated and it will go towards my efforts to run all the platforms Muay Ying is on, as well as create content for each of them. http://patreon.com/muayyingYou can also find us: instagram.com/muay.ying  muay-ying.comYou can find the host (Angela) via instagram.com/angela.muaythai or angelamuaythai.comIntro/Outro music by Maki of the Moon